Articular fibrocartilage
Fibrocartilago articularis
- Latin synonym: Cartilago fibrosa articularis
- Synonym: Articular fibrous cartilage
Definition
An articular fibrocartilage is a specialized connective tissue found in structures such as the menisci of the knee, the articular disk of the temporomandibular and distal radioulnar joints, the articular labrum of the shoulder and hip joint, and at certain tendon and ligament entheses.
It is characterized by a dense extracellular matrix composed primarily of interwoven bundles of type I collagen fibers, with variable amounts of type II collagen and proteoglycans depending on the region and functional demands. The collagen fibers are arranged in a wavelike or interwoven pattern, providing resistance to both compressive and tensile forces.
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